RAMS TRIPPED UP BY HOLY CROSS, 9-3

Mar 12, 2011

RICHMOND, Va. – Senior Michael Cheatham (Chesterfield, Va.) stroked an RBI single and junior Michael Graham (Fairfax Station, Va.) was solid in relief, but Holy Cross used an 11-hit attack to top Virginia Commonwealth University, 9-3, Saturday in the second day of the Terry Sisisky Classic at The Diamond.

VCU, which defeated Holy Cross 10-3 on Friday, slipped to 5-8 with Saturday's loss. The Crusaders also defeated Princeton, 8-2, earlier in the day and improved to 4-7.

Jack Laurendeau had three hits and John Pedrotty (2-1) threw six effective innings, limiting VCU to four hits, to spur Holy Cross. Junior Kyle Haynes (1-3) allowed eight runs in five-plus innings for the Rams, only three of which were earned. He struck out four and walked one. Graham threw three shutout innings out of the bullpen for the Black and Gold, striking out three.

The Crusaders, fueled by four VCU errors, scored three runs each in the second and third innings to take a 6-1 lead.

The Rams jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. With one out, junior Paul Nice (Powhatan, Va.) walked an advanced to second on a groundout. Cheatham followed with a single down the right field line to plate Nice.

VCU did make some noise in the bottom of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Taylor Perkins (Dinwiddie, Va.), as well as an RBI groundout by junior first baseman Brent Mikionis (Powhatan, Va.). However, the Rams were unable to manage a base hit in the final four frames.

Prior to the game, VCU honored longtime broadcaster Terry Sisisky, who passed away in July. Sisisky's family, including wife Sandy and daughter Samantha were in attendance. Samantha threw out the game's ceremonial first pitch. Sisisky broadcast more than 800 men's basketball games and 400 baseball contests from 1980-2008.

The Terry Sisisky Classic continues on Sunday with two games. Holy Cross and Princeton meet at noon at The Diamond, followed by VCU and the Tigers Princeton at approximately 4 p.m.